Candidate drops one race for another

By Katie Stallcup (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Tuesday, September 25, 2007

CLAYTON — Police jury candidate Rydell Turner withdrew from the race this week to run for another office.

Turner, of Clayton, qualified earlier this month to run for the District 1B seat in the upcoming November parish elections.

Turner said after reviewing what he saw as problems in the Clayton area, he decided to run for mayor of Clayton instead.

“It’s mostly got to do with the town rather than the police jury,” Turner said. “I decided I could help the community (as mayor) better than police jury.”

Turner, who ran as an independent, said some of his major concerns were the conditions of roads, overgrown grass, bringing jobs and activities for children.

“I thought I could bring a lot more to the town (as mayor) than through police jury,” he said.

Turner’s withdrawal leaves incumbent Joe “Bear” Parker, of Clayton, and Barbara DePrato, of Ferriday, both Democrats.

Because the only two candidates remaining in that race are running as the same party, the decision will be made when voters cast their ballots in the October primaries.

“One good thing is, it’s over Oct. 20,” DePrato said.

DePrato said she wasn’t sure how Turner’s withdrawal would change the dynamics of the race.

Turner’s withdrawal wouldn’t change her campaign strategy, she said.

“I’m still trying to knock on every door and meet with everybody in our district,” she said.

Incumbent Parker could not be contacted Tuesday.